Looks To Block Boeing And SpaceX From Proceeding With Spacecraft Until Contract Protest Is Resolved

Sierra Nevada Corp. was notably left out of the money when NASA announced that Boeing and SpaceX had won contracts to develop spacecraft which will one day carry astronauts to the International Space Station. But the Louisville, CO-based company is not going down without a (legal) fight.

The Wall Street Journal reports that this week, SNCorp asked the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to block the two winning companies from receiving any payments under the contracts until its challenge is resolved.

Sierra Nevada claims that their bid was some $900 million less than Boeing's, which was awarded $4.2 billion for development of the CST-100 spacecraft. SpaceX won $2.6 billion to develop a manned version of its Dragon spaceship.

SNCorp confirmed that it has "filed with the federal court." NASA declined to comment.

Boeing said through a spokeswoman that until they're told to stop by a court, the company is "full speed ahead" on development of the CST-100. NASA had initially told the winners to halt their work while the protest was considered, but later said they had the authority to order that the work go forward because delays would "jeopardize the process."

FMI: www.sncorp.com, www.nasa.gov